JPH04306947A - Voice storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow lots of users to use the device effectively while a language most understood by the user is selected easily. CONSTITUTION:A voice guidance storage section 21 stores plural voice guidance sets comprising several languages and store a language setting guidance to command a key operation for a caller when the language of the voice guidance is understood and to confirm the voice guidance of the language. A voice guidance selection section 22 selects a specific voice guidance storage section among plural voice guidance storage sections 21 comprising several languages. A central control section 23 applies changeover control to a voice guidance storage section 21a of a prescribed language among the plural voice guidance storage sections comprising several languages by the reception of a phone call sequentially and the selection at that point of time of the voice guidance selection means 22 is confirmed when the language is understood by the key operation of the caller.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a voice storage device, such as a voice mail device, which is connected to an analog or digital telephone line and is capable of recording and reproducing voice messages via the telephone line.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been an answering machine, for example, as a voice storage device using an analog telephone line, but as the amount of information has increased in recent years, demand has rapidly increased as a means of storing information. Furthermore, progress has been made in the development of voice mail devices, which serve as voice storage devices that improve the efficiency of communication and reduce the troublesome work associated with telephone calls by accumulating and comprehensively managing messages sent via office telephones. It has already entered the practical stage.

A conventional voice mail device connected to an analog telephone line will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional voice mail device. In FIG. 3, a circuit interface 1 is connected to an analog telephone line and controls the circuit and separates input and output. The encoder 2 is connected to the output end of the circuit interface 1, converts the analog signal output from the circuit interface 1 into digital data, and outputs an information-compressed digital signal as required. Decoding section 3
The output end of is connected to the circuit interface 1, converts the digital signal back into an analog signal, and outputs the converted signal to the circuit interface section 1. The audio buffer 4 is connected to the output end of the encoder 2 and the input end of the decoder 3, and temporarily stores the digital signal output from the encoder 2 when recording audio, and decodes it when playing a message. The digital signal input to the conversion unit 3 is temporarily stored. buffer·
The output terminal of the address control section 5 is connected to the audio buffer 4 and controls read/write addresses of the audio buffer 4. DT
MF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency)
The detection unit 6 is connected to the output end of the circuit interface unit 1, and detects the DTMF sent via the telephone line.
Detect the signal. The line control section 7 is connected to the circuit interface 1, the buffer address control section 5, and the DTMF detection section 6, and controls the circuit interface section 1 to control audio input/output and also manages line control. As described above, the voice processing unit 8 in the telephone line A1
It consists of Similarly to the line A1, each of the telephone lines A2 to An includes a voice processing section.

On the other hand, the voice message storage section 9 is composed of a plurality of voice message storage sections 9a, 9b, . It is configured to be able to accumulate stored audio data. Furthermore, the voice guidance storage unit 10 stores in advance voice guidance in several languages that informs that the device is a voice mail device. The channel selection unit 11 selects a line for inputting and outputting audio from a plurality of lines and transfers the audio buffer 4 to the audio data control unit 1.
Connect to 2. The voice data control section 12 controls the reading of digital signals from the voice message storage section 9 or the voice guidance storage section 10 and the storage of voice messages in the voice message storage section 9 . While exchanging information with the voice processing section 8 of each line, the central control section 13 controls to select an appropriate voice message storage section 9a, for example, to record and reproduce voice data. The voice message management unit 14 manages storage locations of recorded/replayed messages and information accompanying the messages. The voice guidance management unit 15 also manages the storage location of voice guidance. The command interface section 16 is interposed between the line control section 7 of each line and the central control section 13, and relays commands and status between the central control section 13 and the line control section 7. The clock section 17 is connected to the central control section 13, measures time, and outputs time information to the central control section 13. The central processing unit 18 is configured as described above.

The operation of the conventional voice mail device configured as described above will be explained below. First, when a user calls the voice mail device, the circuit interface section 1 detects the ring tone and on-hooks the line.
The line control unit 7 is notified. The line control unit 7 notifies the central control unit 13 via the command interface unit 16, and the central control unit 13 accordingly controls the voice guidance management unit 15 to issue voice guidance informing that the device is a voice mail device. The voice guidance storage unit 10 outputs the guidance. At this time, the channel selection unit 11 selects the corresponding line.
The audio buffer 4 of the selected line is connected to the audio data control section 12, and the digital audio signal of the guidance is stored in the audio buffer 4. The line control unit 7 is notified via the central control unit 13 and the command interface unit 16 that the audio data reading has been completed. In response to this, the line control section 7 outputs a reproduction start command to the buffer address control section 5, and the buffer address control section 5 sequentially outputs digital audio signals from the audio buffer 4 while advancing the address. The signal is converted back to an analog signal and input to circuit interface section 1, and voice guidance (for example, in Japanese, "This is the message center. Please enter your box number.") is sent to the telephone line via circuit interface section 1. etc.) is output. Here, if the caller cannot understand the voice guidance, for example,
As in Publication No. 4-50656, key 1 of the touch phone,
By pressing 2, 3, etc. in sequence, the language of the voice guidance was switched in English, German, French, etc. in that order, and guidance was provided in several languages.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the configuration of the above-mentioned conventional voice mail device, the user who made the call has pre-recorded guidance in several languages, and each one has guidance in English for key 1 and German for key 2 on the touchtone phone. This assumes that the user knows that the key 3 is assigned to French, etc., but this may be helpful for users who are unfamiliar with operating voice mail devices or who are using a voice mail device for the first time. In such cases, users cannot be expected to press keys 1, 2, 3, etc. on a touch-tone phone after listening to voice guidance in a foreign language that they do not understand, and in many cases they end up hanging up after listening for a while because they cannot understand the voice guidance. However, the problem was that the voice mail device ended up being left unused.

[0007] The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems by providing the same service with voice guidance in several languages and allowing the caller to easily select the language of the voice guidance to be played. It is an object of the present invention to provide an audio storage device that allows more users to effectively utilize the device.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, a voice storage device of the present invention is capable of recording a voice message received from a telephone line, and also records the recorded voice message and voice guidance. A reproducible voice storage device that stores the voice guidance and a language setting guidance that instructs a user to perform a predetermined operation when the language of the voice guidance is understood. voice guidance selection means for selecting a specific voice guidance storage means from a plurality of voice guidance storage means consisting of the plurality of languages; A predetermined voice guidance storage means is sequentially selected from among a plurality of voice guidance storage means consisting of languages, and the sequential selection is stopped by a predetermined operation by the user, and the selection operation of the voice guidance selection means at that point is determined. It is equipped with a control means for controlling.

[0009]

[Operation] With the above structure, the control means controls the voice guidance selection means to sequentially select the voice guidance storage means for different languages from the voice guidance storage means for a predetermined language among the plurality of voice guidance storage means for several languages. The device is controlled so that the selection operation of the voice guidance selection means at that point is determined by a predetermined operation by the user when the language of the voice guidance is understandable, and is fixed to the voice guidance in the language that the user can understand. Even for users who are inexperienced with operation or using the device for the first time, the language of the voice guidance changes automatically on a regular basis, making it easier for the user to select the language that is most easily understood. Many users can effectively utilize the device.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the same reference numerals are given to those having the same functions and effects as those of the conventional example, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a voice mail device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the voice guidance storage section 21 is composed of a plurality of voice guidance storage sections 21a, 21b, . . . 21e in several languages. and language setting guidance for instructing the caller to operate keys when the caller can understand the language of the voice guidance and confirming the voice guidance in that language. There is. The voice guidance selection section 22 selects a specific voice guidance storage section from the plurality of voice guidance storage sections 21 consisting of several languages. Central control unit 2
3 is connected to the voice guidance selection section 22, and when receiving a telephone call, the voice guidance storage section 21a of a predetermined language is selected from among the plurality of voice guidance storage sections 21a, 21b, . . . 21e consisting of several languages. The voice guidance selection unit 22 is switched and controlled so as to be connected to the voice guidance management unit 25, and after a predetermined period of time, the voice guidance selection unit 22 is switched to the voice guidance storage unit 21b to sequentially select voice guidance in different languages, and to select the voice guidance when the language is understandable. The configuration is such that control is performed so that the selection operation of the voice guidance selection means 22 at that point in time is determined by a key operation by the caller. This voice data control section 24 is connected to the voice message storage section 9 or the voice guidance storage section 21.
Control is performed to read out digital signals from the voice message storage section 9 and to store voice messages in the voice message storage section 9. The voice guidance management unit 25 also manages the storage location of voice guidance.

The operation of the voice mail device configured as described above will be explained below based on the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when a user calls the voice mail device, the line interface section 1 detects a ring tone, puts the line on-hook, and notifies the line control section 7. The line control unit 7 notifies the central control unit 23 of the incoming call via the command interface unit 16, and in response, the central control unit 23 selects the type of language to be played first in the voice guidance selection unit. Notify 22. Then, in step S1, the voice guidance selection section 22 receives this and selects, for example, the voice guidance storage section 21a among the voice guidance storage sections 21a, 21b, . Part 24
The switch is controlled so that it is connected to the Next, in step S2, the central control section 23 controls the voice guidance management section 25 to output voice guidance asking whether the user can understand this language from the voice guidance storage section 21a. Thereafter, voice guidance (for example, ``If you wish to receive Japanese service, please press key 1'') is output to the telephone line in the same manner as in the conventional example. Then, in step S3, it is determined whether key 1 of the touch phone has been pressed. When the user listens to the above guidance, understands its content, and presses key 1 on the touchtone phone, the DTMF signal generated by pressing key 1 on the touchtone phone is input to the DTMF detection unit 6 via the line interface unit 1, and line control is performed. unit 7 and is further sent to the central control unit 23 via the command interface unit 16. This results in
In step S4, the central control unit 23 controls the voice guidance selection unit 22 to establish the connection of the voice guidance storage unit 21a to the voice guidance management unit 25 and the voice data control unit 24. Then, in step S5, voice mail services such as message recording are started. When the voice mail service ends, in step S6 the voice guidance storage unit 2
Voice guidance management section 25 and voice data control section 2 of 1a
The connection to 4 is opened.

[0013]Furthermore, if the user listens to the above-mentioned guidance but does not understand the content and does not press key 1 on the touch-tone phone, the central control unit 23 controls the clock unit 17 in step S7.
After checking whether a certain period of time has elapsed based on the information sent from the controller, it is determined in step S8 whether all the guidance has been sent out. If there is audio guidance in a language that has not been played yet, the central control unit 2
3 notifies the audio guidance selection section 22 of the type of language to be reproduced next. In step S1, the voice guidance selection unit 22 selects the voice guidance storage unit 21b in response to this.
The process returns to the voice guidance storage section switching operation. In step S1, the voice guidance storage section 21b, which is guidance in another language, is switched and controlled to be connected to the voice guidance management section 25 and the voice data control section 24. Then, the process moves to step S2, and voice guidance in another language (for example, "If you wish to receive" in English is sent to the telephone line using the same procedure as in the above case).
ive a message in engl
ish, press1. ” etc.) is output. By repeating steps S1 to S3, S7, and S8 in this way, the type of language of the guidance changes, and the user can press key 1 on the touch phone when the understandable voice guidance is played, and the user can hear the voice in the understandable language. You can listen to it by fixing it to the guidance. If voice guidance in all languages has been sent out, in step S9 the voice guidance selection section 22 selects the voice guidance storage section 21a of the first language output, such as Japanese, and Start the service with guidance.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if the user is inexperienced in operating the device or is using the device for the first time, the language of the voice guidance can be automatically changed periodically. Furthermore, the configuration allows users to set the voice guidance language when they can understand it, allowing users to easily select the language that they can understand most easily, allowing more users to utilize the device effectively. It is possible to do so and is practically effective.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a voice mail device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the voice mail device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional voice mail device.

[Explanation of symbols]

21, 21a, 21b,...21e Voice guidance storage section 22 Voice guidance selection section 23 Central control section 24 Voice data control section 25 Voice guidance management section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A voice storage device capable of recording a voice message received from a telephone line and capable of reproducing the recorded voice message and voice guidance, wherein the voice guidance and the language of the voice guidance are provided. a plurality of voice guidance storage means in several languages that store language setting guidance that instructs the user to perform a predetermined operation when the user can understand the language setting guidance; voice guidance selection means for selecting a voice guidance storage means;
The voice guidance selection means is controlled by telephone reception to sequentially select a predetermined voice guidance storage means from among the plurality of voice guidance storage means consisting of the plurality of languages, and the sequential selection is made by a predetermined operation by the user. and control means for controlling the selection operation of the voice guidance selection means to be stopped and finalizing the selection operation at that point in time.